MIAMI, FL – January 30, 2015 – (HISPANICIZE WIRE) – Florida Governor Rick Scott announced the reappoint of prominent South Florida Public Relations and Marketing professional, Rixys Alfonso, CEO at CauseMo Marketing, LLC to the Florida Developmental Disabilities Council (FDDC) for a second term, starting January 22, 2015 ending September 30, 2018. Alfonso was first appointment to the FDDC, where she Chairs the statewide Communications Committee in 2010 by then Governor Charlie Crist, who recognize her tireless commitment to advocacy. She effectively leverages her role to integrate her leadership, along with her multi-cultural expertise, to give a greater voice to the Hispanic community on issues impacting people with disabilities.
Alfonso’s drive emerged from her own personal tragedy after the birth of her eldest son, Devin, now 17. He was born with numerous disabilities – physical and developmental and was given a terminal diagnosis by an orthopedic surgeon at age two. It was at this moment that, with the help of U.S. Representative and Democratic National Committee Chair, Debbie Wasserman-Schultz, then a member of the Florida Legislature, Alfonso transformed herself from worried mother into tireless advocate to save her son’s life, and the lives of other children who were Florida residents and had also received similar diagnosis. As her son’s biggest champion she not only researched the latest cutting edge medical treatments, but became the driving force urging elected officials at state and federal levels to introduce bills to provide funding for medical services for her son and other children suffering from the same and similar condition.
Her advocacy brought Alfonso to the attention of U.S. Senator Chris Dobbs, and once again Devin’s mom provided testimony about his rare genetic disorder, this time to the U.S. Senate. The result was the prompt debate of U.S. Senate Bill 830, which became known as “The Pediatric Medical Device Safety and Improvement Act of 2007” and was instrumental in the development of medical devices for use by children. In 2010, Alfonso initiated a petition to the U.S. House of Representatives that resulted in the passage of Federal House Resolution 1499. The bill honors Dr. Robert Campbell and “Calls on the Food & Drug Administration to continue to support and incentivize other medical advances to save children’s lives threatened by rare disorders.”
In 2014 Alfonso was appointed, and serves as Marketing Chair on the FBI Miami CAAA Board of Directors. In December of 2014 she was a guest of President Barack Obama at The White House. She is personally recognized by U.S. Representative Debbie Wasserman Schultz, who in closing of her book For The Next Generation, acknowledges Alfonso by stating, “To fully illustrate the value derived from a life of service and community action, I will leave you with the story of Rixys Alfonso,” followed by her story of triumph over adversity.
In her professional capacity, Alfonso has been named a “Hispanic Woman of Distinction” by Latina Style Magazine, one of the nation’s leading publications for Hispanic businesswomen. She is known as an innovator in creative strategy for connecting brands with causes and consumers. She founded CauseMo Marketing, LLC in 2013 to drive cause-related initiatives and movement in key markets and across the country. Through her career, she has played a key role in the production of numerous marquee events and marketing campaigns. Her commitment to enhancing the community is routinely demonstrated through her key role in the successful implementation of educational programs, community awareness forums, and youth initiatives, local, state and federal legislation.
About the Florida Developmental Disabilities Council:
The purpose of the Florida Developmental Disabilities Council is to engage in advocacy, capacity building, and systemic change activities that contribute to a coordinated, consumer and family centered, consumer and family directed, comprehensive system of community services and individualized supports that enable individuals with developmental disabilities to exercise self-determination, be independent, be productive, and be integrated and included in all facets of community life. The federal law that created the Council states that the purpose of the Council is to assure that individuals with developmental disabilities and their families participate in the design of and have access to needed community services, individualized supports, and other forms of assistance that promote self-determination, independence, productivity, and integration and inclusion in all facets of community life, through culturally competent programs authorized under this title. For more information, please visit FDDC.org.
Social Media Links:
Twitter and Instagram:
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@Rixys_Alfonso
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